I have been using this eyeliner for years now. I absolutely love it. I have tried other brands but they always seem to fade away within hours. I cannot rave about this eyeliner enough. AND now they just came out with a special waterliner for lining your waterline (duh). I love so many Urban Decay products (also try out their mascaras!). You can order Urban Decay online or go to your local Sephora.

Omg this is an amazing deal. The Korres day cream, night cream, and eye cream all for the price I paid JUST for the night cream. I honestly might order this myself…today.

I bought the Korres Black Pine night cream because my boss told me I should start taking care of my skin more now that I am getting older (lol ugh). I had a Sephora giftcard so figured why not. I can’t believe this trio is now on sale for the price I paid for one! It says limited edition so hopefully that means it will be out through the holidays. I love it and it seems like the ingredients are okay. After reading about how some St. Ives products actually AREN’T that great for your skin, I wanted to find something else and of higher quality. My face feels much softer and more moisturized now…I highly recommend this product!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara – $6-$7 at any drugstore

I actually only started using mascara again recently. My eyelashes are totally straight…my friends call them “camel lashes.” So mascara only accentuates that. BUT then I found some video on YouTube about how to curl your lashes and have them actually stay curled. It’s a process but you 1) heat your eyelash curler, 2) curl, 3) apply waterproof mascara, 4) let it dry, 5) apply normal mascara. Apparently the waterproof mascara acts like a gel and keeps it up. My only complaint is that it is hard to get off at the end of the day but hey, my eyelashes finally curl! This one does the job well.

If you’re looking for a solid foundation, this is the one. I never wanted to spend on foundation and always just brought drugstore brands. I liked Revlon foundation and Maybelline FIT. Then I went to the MAC counter to pick up my usual Studio Fix powder (another thing I’ve been using for years) and asked about the foundation. My skin get super dry in the winter so I wanted to try using liquid instead of powder. This one is moisturizing and is SPF 15. I apply with a brush and it takes me less than a minute each morning AND it lasts all day!

I can’t find the exact curling wand I have but it is very similar to this one. I use a 1″ barrel because my hair doesn’t hold a curl so I do tighter curls since it will fall out anyway and just become waves. If your hair DOES hold a curl I’d suggest 1.5-2 inches for a natural wavy look. I know you can do basically the same thing with a curling iron but I prefer using a curling wand and feel like it holds my curls longer…who knows! I spray styling product in it first, curl, then light hairspray. It actually doesn’t take long at all!

I’ll leave you with my now all-time favorite bronzer. Perfect for winter when you want a little color. I know people rave about NARS but I find their bronzer a bit too shimmery (can’t think of the specific one right now). This one is the perfect blend and not too shimmery or matte. I have also tried MAC bronzer which I thought was too shimmery and not pigmented enough. This one is seriously amazing, and you just need a little bit on your brush for the perfect color.

So there you have it…my beauty favs. My beauty routine is rather simple, but when I find products I love (like the Urban Decay eyeliner or MAC powder), I will use them for years.

I love lululemon tops and their “no stink” technology. I swear it does work. As much as I also love my Nike shirts, after a while there is just this sweaty stench to them. Hot, I know. Anyway, that is why this lululemon top is on my list!

You can’t go wrong with a workout shirt of his favorite team. Dan finds all of his Rutgers stuff at Kohl’s, so check them out for sports apparel (both normal stuff like cotton tees, sweatshirts etc. and also fitness/dri-fit stuff) too!

Have a crossfitter in your life? Definitely check out Reebok. Also, even if you’re not a crossfitter I’d look through their stuff. I really like some of their spandex shorts and board shorts. Their material is super comfy!

My brother loves these socks and so does my dad. Though he also buys the Puma version from TJ Maxx (which is just as good). I like thicker socks for working out/running, so these are a good option for that.

So I was actually searching for men’s lifting gloves but then found these. First of all, do guy wear lifting gloves or do they WANT calluses? lol. Second of all, how cool are these? I kind of want some of my own. I think they’d really help in exercises where your grip strength is lacking a bit, like pull-ups or any pulling exercise.

And that’s all my men’s fitness apparel ideas! Stay tuned for a running gift guide and a fitness gift guide focusing on accessories (which is the one I’m most excited to write).

Can you believe the holiday season is upon us? Because I can’t! I have a few holiday related things up my sleeve for you all, starting with 6 gift guides coming at you this week and next. I figured we will all start shopping soon, and why not get inspired OR find ideas for what YOU might want to add to your own wish list

Nike hyperwarm tops are my favorite winter tops. They are so warm (same with their tights) and I use them for running, sitting out at football games…basically anywhere where I will be cold. They make a great base layer as well to add lighter tops over them for those bitter, cold runs.

Other places I shop for activewear also include T.J. Maxx (you can find really warm fleece-lined leggings here) and Marshall’s. I’m telling you though, you can find a lot of apparel (and inexpensive at that) at Forever 21.

Where do you shop for yourself or the fitness lover in your life?

Do you prefer capris or shorts for gym workouts in the winter (or you don’t care)? I like capris so I’m not AS cold on the walk from my car to the gym lol

I’ve written about RBX Activewear before…and it is still one of my favorite brands for workout gear. I bought two new pieces recently that I wanted to share with you.

But first…can we talk about how marathon training officially started yesterday??? Who else started training for Chicago Marathon, or will start soon? I’m excited that I will be working with Coach Marc again, though also equally as nervous. He just sent me this email today:

We’re going to totally mix it up – some day hard hills, some days long repeats…and then a combination of all of them. The mileage will be comfortably uncomfortable and you’ll be tired. All the time. It’ll be so important for you to take care of yourself and give yourself every opportunity to race fast at Chicago.

I lifted for the first time in months yesterday and was sore before I even went to bed last night. Woke up super sore. Sad thing is I did 3 sets of KB single leg deaflits + rows, KB squat, KB sumo squat, KB overhead press and cable leg kickbacks. All with like 15 pounds. My hamstrings and inner thighs are killing me. But gotta get back into it…I need a PR this fall! *knock on wood*

Okay anyway, let’s get into RBX Activewear. You can find some of their pieces at T.J. Maxx for really great prices. Both my top and bottom in these pictures were $9.99.

I took these photos on Sunday at the NYRR Retro 4 Miler in Central Park (which was awesome by the way!).

The shorts are colorblocked with grey and green (had to match with my Tiux socks!). The main thing I love about these shorts are that they’re high-waisted. So they aren’t falling down or riding up.

The top is a very similar material to lululemons swiftly tanks, so very soft and comfortable. One thing I didn’t like is that it’s a bit low cut for me in the front, so I had to wear a higher cut sports bra. Otherwise, it would not be a pretty sight while running

The front and back are ruched, and the shirt itself is on the longer side, which I also like. Because of the ruching, it is more fitted towards the waist, so you don’t have to worry about your shirt flapping in the wind or riding up.

And gotta end with a running action shot…

Head over to T.J. Maxx or Marshall’s and check out RBX Activewear. I know in the past I have said I don’t like tanks for running, but I think I am a fan now! I still need something to wipe my sweat, but tanks do make me feel a bit cooler than t-shirts.

I have to be in the right mood to shop at Forever 21. I feel like their hangers are always so tightly squeezed together, it’s so hard to actually browse through clothes. I discovered their activewear line a few months ago and really liked the quality, especially for the low prices! Some of their stuff feels like the same type of material as a lululemon swiftly shirt…I actually wanted to buy one to show you for this post but they didn’t have my size This is one of the ones I’m talking about.

I found the last of this tank top I’m wearing in the photos below, and really comfortable spandex shorts. The shorts don’t ride up much, and are such a soft material. I love the wide waistband and waistband details as well! Check out my photoshoot and I’ll link to the items at the end

I love this last photo…my hair – what is it doing??

The pink run top is really soft and I think will be perfect for summer races. Unfortunately, I can’t find it online, but here is a similar option that says “See You At The Finish Line.”

Here are the colorblocked shorts in both gray (like I’m wearing) and black. The shorts are $12.90, and the top is also $12.90…can’t beat that!

Pin it!

I think next month I’ll show my workout finds from T.J. Maxx or Marshall’s. Sometimes you can find great deals there as well.

TGIF! I figured I’d do a quick and fun post about what I’m loving lately. I’ve recently discovered all of these things within the past month or so and now have been using them on a daily basis. Let’s start with some beauty products:

How did I not try this sooner? I had heard about Lush but only thought they made those bath bomb things. I got the Braziliant shampoo (pictured above) from them last week (for shine and moisturizing) and absolutely love it. My hair has been super dry recently and this has been helping. A shampoo bar supposedly gets about 80-100 washes, which is equivalent to 4-5 shampoo bottles, according to Lush. My mom has also tried their all-natural face masks and liked them a lot as well.

I usually don’t wear foundation, but I wanted one that wasn’t super expensive, and that looked natural, especially for nights out/special occasions. This one definitely fits the bill. It matches perfectly with my skin tone, and it’s only 8 bucks! Before this I had bought one from MAC for $30, and it just didn’t match my skin tone. Why pay more than double the cost when I can get a good drugstore foundation? I also love the Revlon foundations!

Obsessed with this right now. I have lashes that go straight down, so I always have to curl them. This is an issue also because I can never wear fake lashes. The fake ones who up and curl nicely, and then you can see my own lashes jutting out. This was the perfect solution. I had heard a lot about the Younique Mascara, and then found this in Sephora. You put on the black coat first, then the white one (which is this cotton-y material), and then the black coat on again. It really elongates your lashes, and no joke it does almost look like fake lashes. Try it!

I couldn’t find an image that’s current and looks like the bag I buy but you can read about it through the link above. This is more of a crunchy salad, which I like. And it includes kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, green cabbage, chicory, pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries. I pair this with the veggie burgers above and it is a filling and delicious salad. I usually add some honey mustard dressing on it. I eat this with lunch and dinner most days!

The people at Tiux sent me a pair to try out and they’re awesome. You can pre-order one of the three socks above now and receive them this spring. I think these are a little thicker than other compression socks, which I like. I need thicker socks to run. Stay tuned for a review on these socks next week!

I like reading things people are loving at the moment, so I thought I’d write up my own post. Let me know if you have a question about any of these!

If you’re like me, your fitness stuff makes up about 90% of your wardrobe (and laundry). I don’t really have a “system” on organizing all of it, which is what inspired me to write this post and see what others are doing. My system right now is just having a drawer for gym shirts, shorts and sports bras. And it ends up getting pretty messy since I dig through it each day to find the write outfit. So the research commenced to get some good tips from other runners and fitness lovers! So let’s talk about how to organize your workout gear:

Tanks & Shirts

Use shower hooks. A great idea I saw on Instagram is from @kariofitness:

She uses shower curtain hooks to put on hangers and hang her tanks and shirts. Another instagrammer commented that in order for them to not slide around, she puts the hooks through rubber bands on the hanger. Genius I say! Easy enough to get shirts off the hooks and put them back on.

Stack vertically instead of horizontally. Why have I never thought of this? This is a great tip from Running On Lentils!

This will totally solve my problem of digging through my drawers, because I can just grab and go. Click through on the photo to read her full post on organization.

Roll up your shirts. If you ran out of drawer space, you can use storage bins for your shirts. I knew rolling clothes up = less space taken up, because I always do this when I pack for a trip, but never thought to do it with my workout gear. This is a tip recommended by MCM Mama Runs and Confessions of a Mother Runner. Here’s MCM Mama’s photo:

Capris/Pants/Shorts

Basically the same tenants can apply here – roll them up in bins, store in your drawers or hang them. Some people use the pants hangers for their capris but I hate unclipping and clipping them in. I think for me, the best thing will be stacking vertically in my shelves.

Headbands

Use an over the door rack. You know, the ones that are for shoes or beauty? Store your headbands in those in order to quickly access them.

Use a bin or bag.Running on Lentils suggests having a separate bag for headbands and hats/visors. Yes, you might have to dig around a bit, you’ll know where they are and you can keep them hidden away in your closet.

How cool is this idea I found on Pinterest? (click through didn’t lead me to a website so I don’t know what the source is, sorry!)

I think that might be the winner for me! A ribbon stuck to the wall with some clothespins = genius idea to hang your headbands, and other stuff too like gloves!

A random tip I liked from Straighten Up With Kristen (full article below) is to create gym outfits and put them together in your drawers that way. And to have an extra outfit and sneakers in your car at all times. I can’t count how many times I’ve been out and want to go to the gym but don’t have my gear, or go to the gym and realize I forgot something like a sports bra.

Thanks to these bloggers for being organized (unlike me) and sharing their organization tips!

Here are a few other helpful links that might help you with spring cleaning:

I’ve written about fitness apparel on a budget before…from Forever21, Old Navy & T.J. Maxx. It doesn’t have to cost you a lot to get some cute workout clothes! The other good thing about not spending a lot is that if you get a rip or a run in your clothes, you won’t stress over it.

Since it’s the holiday season, you may be looking for last minute gifts for your fitness or running fanatic, or you may just want to treat yourself! My gift to myself last week was the limited edition red lipstick from MAC called 5 Alarm. I love it. It’s glossy and sheer so you can do one layer for just a bit of red or layer it on for a more dramatic look. I decided I’m going to get back into doing my makeup/trying new looks. Is that something you’d be interested in reading about? Such as makeup reviews, etc.?

Anyway, back to fitness apparel…here are my picks for items under $25…can’t get much better than that!

These are actually originally $29.99, though some of their leggings with printed waistbands or that are reversible are more. AND Victoria’s Secret is having a 30% off all leggings sale, and free shipping on orders over $40. If you’re looking for a good pair of thick leggings definitely check out these out. They have a thick waistband so it doesn’t awkwardly cut into to you. I actually prefer these over my lululemon wunderunders now. I paid over $80 for wunderunders and on the 3rd or so wear they started pilling. Awesome. Ok, /rant.

Okay, this isn’t technically apparel, but it’s pretty awesome. I found these at my local Five Below and love them. If you’re like me, you lose your headphones a lot or only use them to sweat, to why spend a ton of money on them? These are similar to Yurbuds in that they do not budge in your ear. That piece of rubber that sticks up goes into the crease of your ear and they don’t move at all. Trust me, I hate earbuds because they ALWAYS fall out due to how much I sweat…these are awesome.

**Post contains some affiliate links.

Is there anything you know of/love that is under $25? Leave a comment and share!

There’s a great sale going on at Old Navy now until Wednesday…up to 50% off everything! So it’s time to go through and see what my picks are for activewear. Now that it’s getting chillier, I need some new capri workout pants. My favorite ones I own are from Old Navy and have lasted me about 3 years.

This is not workout gear, but I really want a puffer vest! Now that there’s a sale, I think I’m going to order this one - 20 bucks!

These are the capris I have that have lasted me 3 years. I love them. Mine don’t have this side pocket though which I would love. The pants also have a small pocket in the waistband perfect for your key or GU.

I love my wunderunders from lululemon but they’re pretty pricey. I’d love a pair of patterned leggings like these…as long as they’re not see-through!

I think next week I’ll do a Forever 21 list because I’m perusing their website right now and see a few things a I want…including a high-neck sports bra. Where has this been for me? Does anyone else have the issue of cleavage with sports bras?? No, just me?

Where is your favorite place to shop for workout clothes? What items do you splurge on?

Um…yes please? Like I said above, I prefer spandex shorts to looser shorts. I hate when you’re running and shorts start bunching up in the middle. I love the “R” on the waistband!

There you have it…a short little roundup of fitness apparel you can wear while also supporting your team. I usually wear workout apparel to football games anyway (Dan and I are Rutgers season ticket holders) because I like being comfy while tailgating and at the game. When it’s cooler out, I’m all about the yoga pants and big sweatshirts!